How small businesses are leading Chicago’s economic renaissance in the inner city

While businesses have spent decades fleeing inner cities, their return to Chicago’s forgotten districts has helped create a new economic future for the city. Dyson has stated that they’re committed to staying in the city, and Whole Foods has moved into Englewood. While giants like these corporations certainly help enhance image, Chicago’s smaller businesses are helping to change the city on a more fundamental level, involving their communities in their economic growth. Read more.

Increasing diversity and inclusion in incubators and accelerators—the search for effective strategies

The demand for new strategies and best practices related to supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs was evident at the International Business Innovation Association’s (InBIA) annual conference held last week in Seattle. The 31st annual International Conference on Business Incubation highlighted innovative new strategies for supporting women and minority entrepreneurs, but also confirmed a critical need for more learning platforms on diversity and inclusion for leaders of incubators, accelerators, and other entrepreneurial support organizations. Our latest blog recaps our experience at #ICBI31. Read more.

Watch: Catholic University of America and ICIC introduce a transformative model for urban revitalization

ICIC’s new partnership is changing the way urban business schools think about their role in the community. To promote entrepreneurial solutions to poverty, The Catholic University of America Busch School of Business and Economics is bringing our Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program to Washington, D.C. for the first time. Watch ICIC's CEO Steve Grossman discuss the uniqueness of the partnership and its potential to transform how anchor institutions, such as Catholic University, approach urban revitalization in their communities: Watch the video.

As commercial rents rise, local businesses feel the squeeze

In cities across the U.S., rising commercial rents are threatening the viability of local, independently-owned businesses. Mom and pop shops are being priced out by national chains. Residential developers in search of a large-scale housing opportunity are putting pressure on these businesses to relocate. Read more.

ICIC On the Move

RES/CON 2017: The Global Resilience Summit: ICIC was honored to have our research featured at the premier annual international conference on the practice of resilience and disaster management. ICIC’s Kim Zeuli presented in a session devoted to food system resilience in New Orleans on March 7th. Learn more.

International Conference on Business Incubation:We were also invited to present our research on “Catalyzing Inclusivity in Incubators and Accelerators” at International Business Innovation Association’s (InBIA) annual conference in Seattle on March 27th. ICIC’s Kim Zeuli presented recent research on barriers to women and minority entrepreneurs in incubators and accelerators. Learn more.

Announcements & Careers

LAST CHANCE! Apply or nominate for the Inner City 100 by this Friday: Each year we rank the country's 100 fastest-growing inner city businesses, a list published annually in Fortune. If you are or know a fast-growing inner city business, apply or nominate for the 2017 IC100 list today!

April 12, 2017 Application Deadline: As the national outreach and recruitment partner of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, we’re looking for more business owners that want to increase revenue and create local jobs. Join the 7,500 businesses that have already utilized the program’s practical business education and one-on-one business advising. Apply by 4/12!

Join our team: ICIC is hiring at multiple levels! These Boston-based positions provide an opportunity to join a dynamic and professional team working to address important inner city business and economic development issues. View our other open positions.